Climbing rose plant named ‘KORcentex’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of rose with long lasting, novel pink flowers, and attractive foliage with good disease resistance. It exhibits uniform climbing growth with abundant flowers. The new variety propagates well from cuttings and by grafting. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

CROSS REFERENCES AND FEDERAL R&D STATEMENT

There are no cross referenced or related applications. This variety wasdeveloped without the aid of any research grant.

Latin name of genus and species: The botanical classification of the newrose plant is Rosa hybrida.

Variety denomination: The denomination of the new variety is‘KORcentex’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of rose plant of the present invention originated from acontrolled crossing in a breeding program of two distinct parents duringthe summer of 1997. The crossing was between an un-named seedling and‘Centenaire de Lourdes’, a non patented rose.

The resulting seeds were planted in seedling beds during the followingwinter. The resulting seedlings were subsequently evaluated andexhibited distinctive physical and biological characteristics. The newrose plant was selected as a single plant due to its superiorcharacteristics and asexually propagated from further evaluation. Thisnew and distinctive rose variety is named ‘KORcentex’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new rose plant may be distinguished from its seed parent, anun-named seedling, by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘KORcentex’ has pink flowers and the seedling parent has        carmine red flowers; and    -   2. ‘KORcentex’ has flower blooms to 60 mm in diameter while the        seed parent's blooms are 30 mm in diameter.

The new rose plant may be distinguished from its pollen parent,‘Centenarie de Loudes’, by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘KORcentex’ has 6 double flowers in large clusters while the        pollen parent has semi-double flowers in small clusters; and    -   2. ‘KORcentex’ is a very vigorous grower while the pollen parent        is moderately vigorous.

The objective of the hybridization was to create a new and distinct roseplant with unique qualities, such as:

-   -   1. Upright, vigorous, and uniform growth and flowering;    -   2. Abundant attractive, recurrent flowers;    -   3. Attractive and abundant foliage; and    -   3. Resistance to diseases encountered in landscapes and gardens.

This combination of qualities is not present in prior rose cultivars.These objectives have been substantially achieved and in thatdistinguish ‘KORcentex’ from all other varieties of which we are aware.

As part of a rose development program, Tim-Hermann Kordes germinatedseeds from the aforementioned hybridization and conducted evaluationsand observations on the resulting seedlings in a controlled environmentin Offenseth-Sparrieshoop, Germany. The resulting seedlings exhibiteddistinctive physical and biological characteristics. The new rose plant‘KORcentex’ was selected in May, 1997 from the seedling beds to beasexually propagated for further evaluation. The first asexualpropagation of ‘KORcentex’ was done by budding to seedling understocksin August, 1997 at the hybridizer's nursery in Offenseth-Sparrieshoop,Germany.

This initial and other subsequent propagations conducted in controlledenvironments show that the foregoing and all other characteristics of‘KORcentex’ come true to form and are transmitted through succeedinggenerations. The new variety reproduces true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustration shows as true as is reasonablypossible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typicalcharacteristics of the buds, flowers, leaves, and stems of ‘KORcentex’.Specifically illustrated in SHEET ONE:

FIG. 1: Tight flower bud, and partially opened flower blooms,

FIG. 2: an open flower bloom,

FIG. 3: a flowering stem,

FIG. 4: a flower receptacle and base with and without petals removed,and

FIG. 5: Sepals. Specifically illustrated in SHEET TWO:

FIG. 6: Two leaves.

FIG. 7: a selection of a younger stem and mature stem exhibiting thorns,and

FIG. 8: the juvenile foliage and stem material from the distal end of astem.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a description of ‘KORcentex’, as observed growing in anursery in Jackson County, Oreg. on plants of three years of age. Colorreferences are made using the Royal Horticultural Society (London,England) Colour Chart, 2001 except where common terms of color are used.

For a comparison, several physical characteristics of the rose variety‘KORadigel’, a climbing rose variety from the same inventor describedand illustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,936 and issued on Aug. 1, 2006are compared to ‘KORcentex’ in Chart 1.

CHART 1 Characteristic ‘KORcentex’ ‘KORadigel’ Bud color Blend ofRed-Purple Group 65D to Red-Purple Group Red-Purple Group 65A 58A.Flower color, Red-Purple Group 58B to 58C. Red-Purple Group generaltonality N66B. Stamens Average 30 in number. Approximately 40.

-   Parents:    -   -   Seed parent.—‘Un-named seedling’.        -   Pollen parent.—‘Centenaire de Lourdes’.-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical classification.—Rosa hybrida ‘KORcentex’.        -   Commercial classification.—Climbing rose.

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

-   Blooming habit: Recurrent.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—Upon opening, 25-32 mm in length from base of            receptacle to end of bud. Average bud diameter is 11-12 mm.        -   Bud form.—Globular.        -   Bud and flower color.—As sepals first unfold, bud color is a            blend of Red-Purple Group 65D to Red-Purple Group 65A. When            ¼ open, the color of the upper surface of petals transitions            from Red-Purple Group 68B on the marginal zone to Red-Purple            Group 69C on the basal zone. On the outer petal surface, the            color of the marginal zone of petals transitions from            Red-Purple Group 68B on the upper margin to Red-Purple Group            69C on the basal zone.        -   Sepals.—Size: Average 12-15 mm long×7-10 mm wide. Shape:            Weak foliaceous appendages on three of the five sepals.            Sepal apex is cirrose. Base is flat at union with            receptacle. Quantity: Five. Surface texture: Inner side:            Covered in fine hairs. Outer surface: Nearly smooth.            Margins: With limited numbers of stipitate glands on the            margins. Color: Upper surface Green Group 138A. Lower            surface Green Group 143A. Some anthocyanin intonations on            margins and outer lower sepal surface of Greyed-Red Group            182B.        -   Receptacle.—Surface: Smooth. Color: Green Group 138A. Shape:            Broad funnel. Size: 8 mm (h)×8 mm (w).        -   Peduncle.—Surface: Nearly smooth, with limited numbers of            fine hairs. Length: 25 to 50 mm average length. Diameter:            1.5 to 2.0 mm average diameter. Color: Green Group 138A.            Most with some intonations of Greyed-Red Group 178B.            Strength: Upright to nodding. Borne: Multiple flower buds            per stem, ranging from 8 to 24.-   Flower bloom:    -   -   Fragrance.—Moderate. Fresh floral scent.        -   Duration.—On the plant 4-6 days. Senesced petals drop away            cleanly.        -   Size.—Average flower diameter is 60 mm when open. Average            flower depth is 35 mm.        -   Form.—Nostaglic, resembles a quartered rosette. Shape of            lower when viewed from the side: Upon open, upper part:            Flattened convex. Upon opening, lower part: Convex. Open            flower, upper part: Flattened convex. Open flower, lower            part: Flat to flattened convex.-   Color:    -   -   Upon opening, petals.—Outermost petals: Outer Side: Middle            zone Red-Purple Group 69C. Marginal zone Red-Purple Group            73C. Inner Side: Middle zone Red-Purple Group 73C. Marginal            zone Red-Purple Group 63C. Innermost petals: Outer Side:            Color variable. Red-Purple Group 63B to Red-Purple Group            64C. Inner Side: Red-Purple Group 64C.        -   Upon opening, basal petal spots.—Basal area of coloration is            relatively large, approx. 15-20% of the length of petal.            Basal petal spot, outermost petals: Outer Side: Green-Yellow            Group 1D. Inner Side: Green-Yellow Group 1D. Basal petal            spot, innermost petals: Outer Side: Yellow-Orange Group 15B.            Inner Side: Yellow Group 13C.        -   After opening, petals.—Outermost petals: Outer Side:            Marginal zone Red-Purple Group 65A. Middle zone Red-Purple            Group 65D. Inner Side: Marginal zone Red-Purple Group 67B            and 67C. Middle zone Red-Purple Group 67C. Innermost petals:            Outer Side: Marginal zone Red-Purple Group 73B. Middle zone            Red-Purple Group 73D. Inner Side: Red-Purple Group 70C.        -   After opening, basal petals spots.—Basal petal spots,            outermost petals: Outer Side: Green-Yellow Group 1D. Inner            Side: Green-Yellow Group 1D. Basal petal spots, innermost            petals: Outer Side: Yellow-Orange Group 15C. Inner Side:            Yellow-Orange Group 15C. Variegations: Occasional streak in            the petals of White Group 155A.-   General tonality: On open flower, Red-Purple Group 58C to 58D. No    change in the general tonality at the end of the third day.    Afterwards, general tonality is Red-Purple Group 68B to 68C.-   Petals:    -   -   Petal count.—Approximately 70-75 petals under normal            conditions.        -   Petal reflex.—Petals reflex slightly.        -   Petal edge.—Nearly entire. Typically with an indentation at            the center of the petals apex.        -   Petal shape.—Deltoid. Apex shape is round. Shape of base is            acute.        -   Petal size.—35 mm long; 20 mm wide.        -   Thickness.—Average.        -   Petal arrangement.—Informal. Many petals overlapping and            exhibiting some quartering.        -   Petaloids.—Present. Average of 10-15 per flower. Petaloids            are 15 mm long and 6-10 mm wide. Color of inner side is            Red-Purple Group 67B. Color of outer side is Red-Purple            Group 67B. Surface texture is generally smooth, with some            petals folded. Shape is ovate. Apex shape is rounded with            undulations. Base is acute. Margins with undulations.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistils.—Average number. Clustered at center. Approximately            20-30 present. Stigmas: Location: Superior in location to            anthers. Color: Green-Yellow Group 146C. Styles: Length: 10            mm long. Color: Yellow-Green Group 146D.        -   Stamens.—Average 30 in number. Anthers: A number of the            filaments lack anthers. Size: 1.0-1.5 mm long. Color:            Yellow-Orange Group 15B. Pollen: Absent. Filaments: Color:            Yellow-Orange Group 15B. Length: 6-10 mm. Variable.

THE PLANT

-   Plant growth: Vigorous growth with abundant bloom. Upright climbing    habit. When grown as a budded nursery plant, after two years the    average plant height is 200 cm and the average plant width is 100    cm.    -   -   Stems.—Stem color: Some areas of intonation of Greyed-Purple            Group 183D. Young wood: Yellow-Green Group 146C. Older wood:            Yellow-Green Group 146A. Stem surface: Young wood: Smooth.            Older wood: Smooth.        -   Prickles.—Present. Incidence: 12 per 10 cm of stem. Size:            Average length: 6-7 mm. Color: Immature prickles: Greyed-Red            Group 179A. Mature prickles: Greyed-Purple Group 183A.            Shape: Concave to slightly downward hooked.        -   Leaves and leaflets.—Normally 7 leaflets on normal leaves in            middle of the stem. Leaf size: 100 mm (l)×80 mm (w).            Quantity: Abundant. Texture: Semi glossy. Color, mature            foliage: Upper Leaf Surface: Green Group 137A. Lower Leaf            Surface: Green Group 138A. Color, juvenile foliage: Upper            Leaf Surface: Green Group 137A. Lower Leaf Surface: Green            Group 138A. Anthocyanin intonation: Present. Location:            Intonations of Greyed-Purple Group 183D present on leaflets,            petioles, leaf rachis, and stipules.        -   Stipules.—One pair per compound leaf. Size: Variable. 10 mm            (l)-18 mm (w). Stipule color: Green Group 138A. Presence of            stipitate glands: Present on margins. Margins: Bearded. With            undulations. Shape: Broad at base, narrowing at the center,            with two spreading tips at the apex. Base is curved inwards            at point of attachment. Apex shape pointed, with two            separate points at the distal end.        -   Petiole.—Length: 5 mm. Diameter: 1.0-1.5 mm. Petiole color:            Green Group 137A. Intonations of Greyed-Purple Group 183D            along the margins. Prickles: A few small prickles            underneath. Stipitate glands: Limited numbers of stipitate            glands on margins.        -   Petiole Rachis.—Length: 8-10 mm. Diameter 1.0-1.5 mm. Color:            Green Group 137A. Intonations of Greyed-Purple Group 183D            present on margins of juvenile tissue. Margins: Smooth.            Prickles: Lacking. Stipitate glands: Limited numbers of            stipitate glands on margins.        -   Leaflets.—Size: Average size of the terminal leaflet is 45            mm (l)×30 mm (w). Leaflet shape: Ovate. Base: Obtuse. Apex:            Acute. Margins: Serrated. Texture: Leathery. Venation:            Pinnate. Color, upper side: Green Group 138A. Color, lower            surface: Green Group 138A.-   Hips/Seed formation: None observed.-   Winter hardiness: To date, the variety has been grown successfully    in Zone 5.-   Disease resistance: Above average resistance to powdery mildew,    blackspot, and rust diseases under normal growing conditions.

1. A new and distinct variety of climbing rose plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) forms attractive, long lasting pink flowers; (b) exhibits climbing growth habit; (c) propagates well using traditional methods, and; (d) exhibits very good resistance to disease under normal growing conditions; substantially as herein illustrated and described. 